Eco Solar Hawaii

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SunPower by Eco Solar Blog

Space is Running Out for Grid Supply Program!

Grid supply program comes to an end
Under grid supply, HECO buys the excess power you generate during the day for a set rate. Learn more here

The Customer Grid Supply Program (CGS) from Hawaiian Electric, launched in October 2015 to offer a solar opportunity to homeowners who missed out on the Net Metering program, is drawing to a close.

25 MW of grid capacity was originally allocated, but the most recent update from HECO shows the capacity to be under 5 MW. During a recent 20-day period, over 7% of the remaining space was reserved with new applications!

Sources inside Hawaiian Electric indicate that the pace of new CGS applications is increasing as the limit approaches. We anticipate that the program will expire in late September or early October at the latest.

Bottom line: if someone you know is still waiting to get solar, it is urgent that they reach out now to reserve their grid space!

To learn more about how the grid supply program works, please read our explanation of the program.

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SunPower by Eco Solar Blog

Boost Your Savings!

Eco Boost solar panel cleaning on Oahu

Dust, salt spray, bird droppings, leaves and other debris on your solar panels can noticeably impact your system’s performance over time.

If you have concerns, talk to us about our Eco Boost solar panel cleaning and maintenance service. We recommend it annually for all systems, but if you’ve had solar for years, it’s time for a checkup!

We’ll clean your solar panels and make sure all your electrical and roof-mounted equipment is in good working condition. When we’re done, we’ll email you a comprehensive report on your system, complete with an itemized checklist indicating any potential performance issues.

Jerry Vares of Hawaii Kai gets an Eco Boost for his system every year. He’s happy about the surge in performance it provides along the peace of mind that comes with knowing his solar investment is being checked regularly by trained technicians.

“It just performs better. If you look at the graphs, it’s producing better than before it was cleaned. So maintenance is really important and the service is awesome!” says Vares.

Eco Boost is available for any residential solar energy system on Oahu. You do not need to be a SunPower by Eco Solar customer to take advantage of the service, but for a limited time we are offering a 50% discount to members of our SunPower by Eco Solar ‘ohana!

To schedule service or get a quote, contact us here or call 808 744-2274.

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SunPower by Eco Solar Blog

The Tesla Powerwall is Here!

Tesla Powerwall Home Battery OahuSunPower by Eco Solar is proud to announce the arrival of the Tesla Powerwall Home Battery on Oahu!

If you already have solar, upgrading your system to Tesla Powerwall provides clean, reliable emergency backup power, eliminating the need for fuel storage and noisy, fume-producing generators.

If you are installing a new system, the Powerwall enables you to optimize your consumption of solar energy under Hawaiian Electric’s new grid-supply or self-supply program in addition to giving you worry-free backup during a power outage.

Ready to find out more? Contact us now to schedule a free consultation.

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SunPower by Eco Solar Blog

Protect your PV Modules from Paint Overspray

Paint spray solar panelsWe have experienced an increase in calls this year related to paint overspray affecting the energy production of homeowners’ PV systems. This unfortunate situation happens when the homeowner has their home repainted and during the application of paint on the eaves and gutters, overspray covers the PV modules. The effects are costly and affect both energy production and the aesthetics of the PV system.

If you are planning to have your home repainted, please make sure the painter you select carefully covers the PV modules with a tarp or uses a brush to apply the paint.

If you have had your home painted since we installed your PV system and precautions for overspray weren’t taken, you may have paint on your PV modules.

We are here to help! We can help you to remove the paint overspray, or it may also be a great time to take advantage of our expert maintenance package, the Eco Boost.

In an Eco Boost we clean your PV modules and make sure your electrical and roof-mounted equipment is in good working condition. Please note that the additional time spent on particularly stubborn cases where the paint is difficult to remove may be billable.

A note to all the Do-It-Yourselfers: since PV module manufacturers don’t allow us to use cleaning solutions, removing paint is a delicate procedure done by using non-abrasive sponges and scrapers whilst applying filtered water.

Call us today if you suspect you have paint overspray or to see if your PV system needs an Eco Boost!

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SunPower by Eco Solar Blog

Solar: saving you money at home, but what about where you work?

Homeworks Construction solar panelsWe’ve helped over 1,500 Oahu families reduce or eliminate their electric bill, but have you considered reducing operating costs at your business or organization with solar?

Homeworks Construction in Honolulu was able to greatly reduce their energy bill with zero out-of-pocket expenses or impact to their Moilili headquarters.

Even with a small footprint and challenging roof layout, Homeworks was able to optimize their savings with super-efficient SunPower panels.

Click here to read the full story…

If you own a commercial building or work somewhere where solar would make sense, contact us to find out more.

What do you watch, listen and follow?

We pay for your referralsAnd why do we care? It’s not because were super-nosey. Seriously. We’re interested in the radio stations you listen to, the TV stations you watch and the websites you follow so we can target our marketing to find more smart people like you.

Please take a minute to fill out our Customer Interest Survey. You don’t have to give your name, but if you do, we promise not to tell anyone about that show you’re binge watching!

We’re reaching out to more people, but most of our new customers are your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

We’ve paid out tens of thousands in referral rewards. Our current reward is $500 for each new customer you refer that buys or leases a SunPower system from us.

So please keep those referrals coming!

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SunPower by Eco Solar Blog

Do you know someone with a “Golden Ticket”?

golden_ticket2_02According to Hawaiian Electric, there are nearly 15,000 homeowners in Hawaii who have an approved or pending Net Energy Metering (NEM) agreement but haven’t yet installed solar. Chances are one of your friends, family or neighbors are among these folks.

If you can help us find these Golden Ticket holders, it can greatly benefit both you and them. Here’s why:

For a limited time, SunPower by Eco Solar is offering $1000 in incentives to bring your friends on board for their solar energy project. The details:

  • $500 referral fee to you
  • $500 discount to your friend on their system

To refer a friend please click here. In the “additional notes” please write “Golden Ticket”!

Time is running out to cash in those Golden Tickets!

sun_clock2_02Why is an NEM a Golden Ticket? Two main reasons, greater savings and increase in home value.

Although Hawaii became the first state in the nation to end net metering in October 2015, the rule change contained an incredible opportunity for homeowners who got in before the deadline.

Simply stated, the NEM becomes attached to your home, so you can continue to enjoy the benefits for as long as you stay there and even transfer the agreement to a new owner if you sell!

While the new Grid Supply program still offers huge savings via solar, NEM offers a more straightforward approach that saves greater dollars over the long haul.

Bottom line: if someone you know has a NEM, but hasn’t installed solar yet – don’t let them miss out on this opportunity. There are only a few months left before all of those golden tickets expire!

If you have questions regarding net metering or the new grid supply program please contact us, hit us up on Facebook or call us at 808 744-2274.

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SunPower by Eco Solar Blog

PUC ruling: What’s the future of solar for Hawaii?

hawaii_isles_sunWhat does the recent ruling from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) mean for the future of solar energy in Hawaii? If you’ve already installed a system, the news is very good indeed. Even if you haven’t, the news is still good, but the clock is ticking!

For those who already have solar or who filed for Net Energy Metering (NEM) on or before October 12, Hawaiian Electric has “grandfathered” your system in, meaning that you will continue to enjoy the savings. There’s even a provision that allows you to transfer your NEM to a new owner should you decide to sell your home in the future.
 
So if you already went solar, now’s your chance to feel even smarter about locking in those savings, but what about your friends and family who haven’t had the chance to make the move?

meter_sunsetThere is still time left, but the clock is ticking…

Hawaiian Electric’s new “grid supply” program allows homeowners to now benefit from an energy buyback strategy. Like net metering, this plan will provide tens of thousands in lifetime savings for the average customer. The PUC however, has limited these installations to 25 megawatts in total, which experts predict will be exhausted within 8-12 months.

Bottom line for the undecided: time is running out!

Now more than ever, the quality of the system you install is crucial. SunPower panels are guaranteed to produce significantly more energy over time than all other panels. Investing in a high-efficiency SunPower system is the smartest choice you can make to increase your lifetime savings, regardless of the changing landscape of utility rules and incentives.

So if your friends and family are still waiting, now is the time to tell them about Eco Solar. One thing that hasn’t changed – we’re still paying you $500 for every friend you refer to us that joins the Eco Solar ohana!

Refer a friend…

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